Let’s first take a little review of the Principles of Hand Hygiene that are endorsed by the AMA and the AAFP:

Wash your hands when they are dirty and before eating;

Do not cough into your hands;

Do not sneeze into your hands;

Above all, do not put your hands into your eyes, ears, and mouth.

What actually happens to the surrounding environment when you cough or sneeze into the open air or your hands? According to Inside Science, a news site supported by the American institute of Physics, an average cough forces about 3,000 droplets out of the body at around 50 miles per hour.

Similarly, but on a much grander scale, is the human sneeze. Traveling at an astounding 200 miles per hour, around 40,000 droplets can be released into the air with just ONE sneeze.

For both coughs and sneezes alike, these particles range in size. Many of the particles are dense enough that they eventually float to the floor or surrounding surfaces. However, some of the particles are so light that they can linger in the air and can be dispersed through movements such as making a hospital bed or opening a door.

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The DebMed blog is the go-to source for hand hygiene and infection prevention related discussions occurring in the healthcare industry. Join the conversation! All readers are invited to comment, share stories and information, and post articles of interest.